? USA FOOD LIST - Anyone Willing To Help Update It...?

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Elizabeth and Bertie

Elizabeth and Bertie

Very Active Member
As we know, the wonderful food info at Catinfo.org is now a few years out of date.

Quite a number of people have expressed a wish to see an updated food list. Theoretically, this can be done, but someone has to actually volunteer to do it.

If it is possible to update the food information this could be of enormous benefit to the many US members here.
There would be a lot of work involved. But perhaps it would be possible to start with, say, the 20 most popular foods, and then add more to the list over time..? (This is how I did the UK list).

A list of USA foods would involve more initial work (than the UK list) because US foods are labelled with Guaranteed Analysis (of minimum and maximum values) and this may well not be an accurate representation of what is in the can at any given time.
So, an initial task would be to contact food manufacturers and ask for the current as fed values. (Some manufacturers are more helpful than others...) It could take time to get the answers needed. So patience will be required. ;)
Then, carb calculations would need to be done. (That's not so bad. A spreadsheet can do the calculations, so it only requires that the data is entered.)
Then the info needs to be added to a list.

I wonder if there are some people currently on the forum who could get together to form a team to take this task on?
If there are some people willing to help then maybe they could express their interest here in this thread; and if there is sufficient interest perhaps they could contact each other to get a conversation going to see what's even possible...?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.... ;)

I'm writing this in response to a post that @JohnZ wrote here:
Shortcut Shopping List - all 8% or less Updated

Eliz
 
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I'm planning on calling about some food I've started feeding Colin(Whole Earth). I know it's low carb from the ingredients and his response, but need to know the Phos. I will try to get info for all their foods. What exactly do I need to ask them for? When I get the info I'll be glad to post it or add it to a new list for others to benefit from.
 
Sharon14 said:
I'm planning on calling about some food I've started feeding Colin(Whole Earth). I know it's low carb from the ingredients and his response, but need to know the Phos. I will try to get info for all their foods. What exactly do I need to ask them for? When I get the info I'll be glad to post it or add it to a new list for others to benefit from.
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Sharon,

For the carbohydrate calculations we would need the As Fed (Typical Analysis) values (NOT the Guaranteed Values) for the following nutrients:

Moisture
Protein
Fat
Fiber
Ash

Also... as you mentioned... it would be helpful to have the As Fed value for Phosphorus... but… with Phosphorus… we would also want the Dry Matter value (in addition to the As Fed value)… I believe that is want most folks would find the most helpful :)

John and Derek
 
JohnZ said:
That makes things easier... now all we have to ask for is the 'As Fed' values (of the Phosphorus, as well as the other 5 nutrients).
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Yes, indeed... And I know that may be challenging.... :rolleyes:
I fear that others here may be put off by what's involved in updating the list, as we're not exactly getting trampled to death in the rush to help.... :smuggrin:

I know it sounds like a huge task. But it can be done in bite-size chunks.
Any info that can be updated would be a big help.
Even if a person volunteers to try to get the 'current as fed data' for the different flavours of a single food that would still be a big help.... And if a dozen people do that we have the beginning of a list... :woot:

Eliz
 
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I have a list of some foods that I will check on, hopefully this week. In the past I got the as fed and dry matter, carbs and Phos, from Wellness, didn't ask for the other values, but I'll try to get those as well. In the meantime I can supply you with what I have, if you'd like.
 
Sharon14 said:
I have a list of some foods that I will check on, hopefully this week. In the past I got the as fed and dry matter, carbs and Phos, from Wellness, didn't ask for the other values, but I'll try to get those as well. In the meantime I can supply you with what I have, if you'd like.
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Sure… got to start somewhere… I can start putting together a spreadsheet and plugging in whatever ‘As Fed’ values we have.

Remember- we only need the ‘As Fed’ Moisture, Protein, Fat, Fiber and Ash values for the carbohydrate calculation. :)

The Phosphorus value would be very helpful- but is not needed for the carbohydrate calculation.

John
 
Ok got the email from Merrick. It lists as fed values for 27 of it's wet foods. What shall I do with it?:confused:
I'll call Canidea tomorrow. I'm starting with the higher end foods because I think they are more willing to give info. Then I'll try some other ones...
 
Sharon14 said:
Yes plus phosphorus, calcium, sodium and something else.
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:woot::woot::woot:!!!

Hang onto that info, Sharon.
It might be a good idea to get a PM conversation going with people who have obtained updated cat food data (or are willing to try to get it...). We can use the data to calculate carb values and start to make an updated list, hopefully....fingers crossed.... ;)

Eliz

Oh, by the way, thanks for your enthusiasm! :bighug::kiss::bighug:
 
Sharon14 said:
Ok got the email from Merrick. It lists as fed values for 27 of it's wet foods. What shall I do with it?:confused:
I'll call Canidea tomorrow. I'm starting with the higher end foods because I think they are more willing to give info. Then I'll try some other ones...
Click to expand...

Wow- this is a great start- good job, Sharon! :bighug::):cat:

John
.
 
Sharon14 said:
Ok got the email from Merrick. It lists as fed values for 27 of it's wet foods. What shall I do with it?:confused:
I'll call Canidea tomorrow. I'm starting with the higher end foods because I think they are more willing to give info. Then I'll try some other ones...
Click to expand...

Sharon, this is great! :bighug::bighug:

I'd like to get a spreadsheet going, with calculated carbohydrate values...

Is it OK to get a copy of the data you received?

Maybe there's a way to store this kind of data in some central location? Maybe Google Doc's? Not sure how that would work? Or maybe put together some kind of emailing list????

:):cat:
John
 
Sharon14 said:
Ok got the email from Merrick. It lists as fed values for 27 of it's wet foods. What shall I do with it?:confused:
I'll call Canidea tomorrow. I'm starting with the higher end foods because I think they are more willing to give info. Then I'll try some other ones...
Click to expand...

Feel like adding Purina Friskies and Fancy Feast to the list? :nailbiting:...

That should be a challenge :banghead:

I know a lot of people here use them.

Thanks!!!!:)

John
 
From what I understand several people have been trying to get info from Friskies with no luck. I would think you'd have the same problem with FF, so maybe someone more aggressive should tackle them! I don't feed either one, will attempt Sheba though.
 
I've attached the As Fed values that I received for the 9Lives canned cat food that I received from them last year. The data is dated 02/2014... trying to get an updated list... no luck so far... although 02/2014 isn't too bad. :)
 

Attachments

JohnZ said:
Started adding the Weruva data... and noticed that the Fiber value is not listed :(
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Sure isn't, I hadn't noticed. I'll add them to my list to call. Hope to get back to it today or tomorrow, got kinda busy. Here's Merrick. Let me know if I need to get anything else from them.
image.jpg image.jpg
 
Thanks Sharon, I'll start inputting the data into a preliminary spreadsheet/chart in the next day or so... and post the results.
.
 
JohnZ said:
I've attached the As Fed values that I received for the 9Lives canned cat food that I received from them last year. The data is dated 02/2014... trying to get an updated list... no luck so far... although 02/2014 isn't too bad. :)
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Hi @JohnZ ,

I don't live in the US, but I'm really impressed by the number of lines of 9Lives canned food analysis.
And thus, all the following questions are for my own culture only:
Do they guarantee that all of their cans have exactly the same detailed composition? How can they manage that?
Are all the components listed from natural origin (i.e. coming directly from the ingredients, like meat and vegetables) or do they add a "magic powder"?
I'm really impressed to see such a number of tested components, and a little bit doubtful, frankly speaking...
 
Capoo said:
Do they guarantee that all of their cans have exactly the same detailed composition? How can they manage that?
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No, all they guarantee is the Guarantee Analysis
Capoo said:
Are all the components listed from natural origin (i.e. coming directly from the ingredients, like meat and vegetables) or do they add a "magic powder"?
Click to expand...
The ingredient list are supposed to be complete. There should not be any other ingredients. Just note that sometimes they list ingredients like "artificial flavors and colors" without listing which specific ones
 
Larry and Kitties said:
No, all they guarantee is the Guarantee Analysis

The ingredient list are supposed to be complete. There should not be any other ingredients. Just note that sometimes they list ingredients like "artificial flavors and colors" without listing which specific ones
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Such a relief!!!!

I thought that they were able to guarantee all that infinite list.

I really don't like the "artificial flavors and colors" component. That could be anything!

I would prefer not to have such an impressive list, but to have a limited number of components.
 
Haven't heard from Sheba, not unexpected, will call them next week and will tackle Wellness, Natures Variety and maybe Iams too...
 
This is a wonderful effort! Thank you for undertaking this task.

IfI may make a suggestion, please contact Lisa Pierson, DVM (www.catinfo.org) once you've compiled information. At one point, she'd asked if we had more information to let her know so she could incorporate it into her food charts. It may also help for follow the format that she's used since her website has a very large following and it's what many of us have been using as a reference for years. For example, John's chart is great but as information is accumulated, you may want to have the name of the food on the vertical axis rather than the horizontal.
 
An update... 9Lives (J.M. Smucker company) got back to me (by email)... they want to send the updated information to my veterinarian (and not me).

Called my vet... he said that was fine and that and he would forward the info back to me. Supplied 9Lives with my vet's contact information. We shall see.:):cat:
 
Sharon14 said:
Haven't heard from Sheba, not unexpected, will call them next week and will tackle Wellness, Natures Variety and maybe Iams too...
Click to expand...

Thanks Sharon... that's great. :):cat:

By the way... I started adding to the spreadsheet the data you've been collecting. Also adjusting the look and feel of the spreadsheet. Thanks again!
 
I have tried to get As Fed values from Purina repeatedly over the past couple of years for several of their newer products, and all they will give me is the Guaranteed Analysis. They tell me it's the same thing. Then they send me coupons. :facepalm: I wish anyone who is willing to try again good luck.

I got the Phosphorous values on the Merrick Purrfect Bistro line last year, but I see Sharon already has that, and more.

Here is what I got from Evanger's:

Thank you for contacting Evanger's and for you interest in our fine foods. With the issues listed below, I would recommend a canned diet with little to no dry food.

Generally the specs on a given formula is based on the style of food such as ground loaf style. This is because careful blending and processing allow us to hit these target numbers. This is true with most pet foods. Below is our spec for a traditional loaf style cat food for a given formula. Our car content usually runs much lower as 98% of the formula is typically meat.

That being said we do have some unique cat foods such as our Beef Tips in Gravy which is completely boneless and therefore would run a lower ash, calcium and phosphorus. This formula along with our boneless signature series cuts in gravy style foods would run about a .16% phosphorus on an as fed basis.


http://evangersdogfood.com/?p=20090 - made for kidney issues.


CANNED CAT FOOD:

The "as said basis" values for our canned cat food are as follows:

- Crude Protein (min.) = 10.00%

- Crude Fat (min.) = 6.00%

- Crude Fiber (max.) = 1.50%

- Moisture (max.) = 78.00%
- Calcium (min.) = 0.25%

- Phosphorus (min.) = 0.20%

- Potassium = .25%

- Magnesium = .03%

- Sodium = .20%

- Carbohydrates (max.) = 2.50%

- Ash (max.) = 2.30%


The "dry matter basis" values for our canned cat food are as follows:

- Crude Protein (min.) = 45.45%

- Crude Fat (min.) = 27.27%

- Crude Fiber (max.) = 6.82%

- Calcium (min.) = 1.14%

- Phosphorus (min.) = 0.91%

- Potassium = 1.14%

- Magnesium = .14%

- Sodium = .91%

- Carbohydrates (max.) = 11.36%

- Ash (max.) = 10.45%



If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Brett Sher

847.537.0102 | evangersdogfood.com | againstthegrainpetfood.com

I got an Excel spreadsheet from Nulo on their Freestyle line, but I can't figure out how to attach it here.

I'm so glad someone is tackling this task. Let me know how I can help!
 
Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey said:
I have tried to get As Fed values from Purina repeatedly over the past couple of years for several of their newer products, and all they will give me is the Guaranteed Analysis. They tell me it's the same thing. Then they send me coupons. :facepalm: I wish anyone who is willing to try again good luck.

I got the Phosphorous values on the Merrick Purrfect Bistro line last year, but I see Sharon already has that, and more.

Here is what I got from Evanger's:

Thank you for contacting Evanger's and for you interest in our fine foods. With the issues listed below, I would recommend a canned diet with little to no dry food.

Generally the specs on a given formula is based on the style of food such as ground loaf style. This is because careful blending and processing allow us to hit these target numbers. This is true with most pet foods. Below is our spec for a traditional loaf style cat food for a given formula. Our car content usually runs much lower as 98% of the formula is typically meat.

That being said we do have some unique cat foods such as our Beef Tips in Gravy which is completely boneless and therefore would run a lower ash, calcium and phosphorus. This formula along with our boneless signature series cuts in gravy style foods would run about a .16% phosphorus on an as fed basis.


http://evangersdogfood.com/?p=20090 - made for kidney issues.


CANNED CAT FOOD:

The "as said basis" values for our canned cat food are as follows:

- Crude Protein (min.) = 10.00%

- Crude Fat (min.) = 6.00%

- Crude Fiber (max.) = 1.50%

- Moisture (max.) = 78.00%
- Calcium (min.) = 0.25%

- Phosphorus (min.) = 0.20%

- Potassium = .25%

- Magnesium = .03%

- Sodium = .20%

- Carbohydrates (max.) = 2.50%

- Ash (max.) = 2.30%


The "dry matter basis" values for our canned cat food are as follows:

- Crude Protein (min.) = 45.45%

- Crude Fat (min.) = 27.27%

- Crude Fiber (max.) = 6.82%

- Calcium (min.) = 1.14%

- Phosphorus (min.) = 0.91%

- Potassium = 1.14%

- Magnesium = .14%

- Sodium = .91%

- Carbohydrates (max.) = 11.36%

- Ash (max.) = 10.45%



If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Brett Sher

847.537.0102 | evangersdogfood.com | againstthegrainpetfood.com

I got an Excel spreadsheet from Nulo on their Freestyle line, but I can't figure out how to attach it here.

I'm so glad someone is tackling this task. Let me know how I can help!
Click to expand...


Thanks for your help!
It’s a real shame that some cat food manufactures refuse to supply data that is actually useful. :banghead:
The Evanger “as said basis” values appear to be Guaranteed Analysis values… which… as we know… are useless.
When was the last time you contacted Purina? Was it by phone or email?...
Has anyone else tried to contact Purina later?...
Has anyone tried mentioning that the data being requested is being requested by their veterinarian? Maybe that’s something to try (I’m presently trying that with the 9Lives manufacture (checked with my vet first)).
Thanks again!
John
:):cat:
 
JohnZ said:
An update... 9Lives (J.M. Smucker company) got back to me (by email)... they want to send the updated information to my veterinarian (and not me).

Called my vet... he said that was fine and that and he would forward the info back to me. Supplied 9Lives with my vet's contact information. We shall see.:):cat:
Click to expand...

Good news... got a updated listing of the 9Lives (through my veterinarian)... this one is dated 03/16... spot checked about 6 or so of the favors and the values are all the same! :)
I'll check the rest when I get a chance.

John
 
What about a food list for those who live in Europe?
I have already gathered some information from food available on Zooplus, that would be interesting to build a common file for Europeans.
 
I'd love to help, trying to figure all this food stuff out myself.

I didn't make it through the whole thread... Looks like a lot of data has already been obtained. Do you guys just want to assign a few brands to me and I'll start contacting them?

Kelly
 
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